Mad, mad Monster

DUCATI has churned out a storied bunch of motorcycles—the Super Sport and 916 are just a couple (there are the radios, too, though that’s another story). But mention “Ducati” and invariably, almost reflexively, the word “Monster” would pop up. And in the revered Monster line, the Big Daddy is now the 1200.

The new Monster 1200 and 1200 S have recently arrived in the showroom of Ducati Phils., which sells the 1200 for P1.090 million and the 1200 S for P1.250 million.

While both remain unmistakably a Monster in styling and swagger, the 1200 pair deviates from Monster tradition in much the same way Porsche’s 996-generation 911 moved away from its lineage’s ways. That’s because Ducati’s 1,198cc, Testastretta, Desmo L-twin that sits within the signature trellis frame of the Monster 1200—twice as stiff now compared to that on the previous Monster—is now liquid-cooled rather than just relying on airflow.

It’s a mill derived from those propelling Ducati’s equally desirable Diavel and Multistrada. In the Monster 1200, this engine spins out 135hp at 8,750rpm and 118Nm of torque at 7,250rpm, with the grunt delivered to the rear wheel by a six-speed transmission. It’s fed by 53-millimeter throttle bodies governed over by electronic fuel injection—which is ride-by-wire. Spent gases are expelled by a lightweight 2-1-2 system with catalytic converter and twin aluminum mufflers.

Like in the Diavel and Multistrada, as well as Ducati’s Panigale and Streetfighter, the latest Monster 1200 gets three riding modes that allow for as much number of attitudes. Sport gives off the full 135hp song (along with minimal traction control and ABS nannying), Touring calms things down a bit while Urban cuts oomph to 100hp (with the electronics nannies coming on board).

Other tech specs? The Monster 1200 has a slipper clutch, a 43mm fully adjustable fork, an aluminum single-sided (of course!) swingarm for the fully adjustable monoshock, and 17-inch alloys wrapped with 120/70 ZR17 in front and 190/55 ZR17 rubbers in the rear (both Pirelli Diablo Rosso II). Front brakes are two semi-floating discs grabbed by monobloc Brembo M4-32 calipers while the rear disc is reined in by a two-piston floating caliper. The bike tips the scales at 182 kilograms dry.

In 1200 S trim, the Monster adds Ohlins suspension, 10 more horsepower and marginally more torque, and some carbon-fiber pieces.